CIE Components in Electronics
Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has introduced the T4K37, a 13 mega pixel, 1.12 micrometre, CMOS image sensor that is capable of delivering high-image quality equivalent to a 1.4 micrometre pixel image sensor. Toshiba implemented back side illumination (BSI) technology and integrated colour noise reduction (CNR) to develop this CMOS image sensor which can fit into an 8.5mm x 8.5mm size camera module and that can provide high-quality pictures even in low-light conditions.
As mobile devices like smartphones and tablets get smaller and thinner, the pixel size of image sensors needs to shrink accordingly. However, the miniaturisation of pixel size reduces the amount of light entering the pixel, which affects image quality. Toshiba is addressing the challenge of pixel miniaturization with its newest CMOS image sensor.
The miniaturisation of pixel size impacts performance of light sensitivity and signal to noise ratio (SNR) in today’s 1.12 micrometre pixel image sensors. BSI technology helps improve sensitivity, but falls short on elevating image quality. Leveraging its innovation and technology expertise, Toshiba developed its newest CMOS image sensor with BSI and CNR integrated on the sensor to address both low-light sensitivity and SNR. As a result, the Toshiba CMOS image sensor provides approximately 1.5 times higher SNR value[1] than a 1.12 micrometre pixel image sensor with no CNR feature, allowing manufacturers to deliver products with high-quality imagery, even in low-light conditions.
